Barcode
Generator Implementation Tutorial for
FileMaker Pro
This tutorial explains how to easily implement cross-platform barcodes in
FileMaker forms and reports without installing any fonts, plug-ins or
components. This implementation uses IDAutomation's
Dynamic Barcode
Generator Service which supports all popular linear barcode types as well as
2D symbols such as PDF417, MaxiCode and Data Matrix ECC200. This tutorial
explains just one method of creating barcodes in FileMaker. Several other
methods are explained in the
FileMaker Implementation Guide.

- An example database is
available
for download; the example may be helpful in understanding this tutorial.
-
Purchase a subscription to the
Dynamic Barcode
Generator Service or use the fully-functional
free demo version. 2D barcode types such as PDF417, DataMatrix and
MaxiCode are only available in the
purchased
version.
- Open the form or report the barcode is needed for in Layout Mode.
- Choose Insert - Web Viewer.

- In the Web Viewer setup screen, deselect the Allow Interaction
checkmark at the bottom.
- Delete all text in the Web Address field and choose the Specify
button.
- Add in the web address of the
Dynamic Barcode
Generator Service surrounded by double quotes and ending with an ampersand
character, when using the free linear version, the address to use is:
"http://www.bcgen.com/demo/linear-dbgs.aspx?Barcode="&
Currently, 2D barcode types such as PDF417, DataMatrix and MaxiCode are only
available in the purchased version.
- Place the cursor after the ampersand character and select the field to
encode in the barcode and choose OK twice to exit the web viewer setup.

- Size the web viewer so it is large enough to contain the entire barcode,
with an appropriate amount of white space surrounding the symbol.
- Choose Browse Mode and view the report or form to verify the barcode
appears correctly. When generating large reports, the barcodes may take some
time to appear, because they are generated independently over the Internet.
- Print and scan the barcode to verify the correct data is encoded. If a
scanner is needed to verify barcodes, IDAutomation suggests the
hand-held
USB barcode scanners.

Implementation with PDF417, Maxicode or
Data Matrix ECC200 2D Barcodes:
In the Dynamic Barcode
Generator Service the text of "DEMO" along with a CR and LF function will be
encoded in the barcode. Therefore, if symbol size is being evaluated, only the
purchased
version should be used. 2D Barcodes may be created from the demo version
of the Dynamic Barcode
Generator Service by entering the web addresses below into the
Web Viewer as described in the tutorial:
http://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingDataMatrix.aspx?Barcode=
http://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationMaxicodeImage.aspx?Barcode=
http://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingPDF417.aspx?Barcode=
For example, a Data Matrix barcode is easily created in FileMaker using the
web address of:
"http://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingDataMatrix.aspx?Barcode="&
IDAutomation.com Barcode Database Example::Employee ID
Combining Multiple Fields in a Barcode from
a FileMaker Database:
Using IDAutomation's Dynamic Barcode
Generator Service, multiple fields may be easily combined, appended or
delimited within a single barcode symbol by using the ApplyTilde feature. The following example encodes
(Employee ID, the tab function, First Name, the return function, Last Name and
the text of FileMaker DataMatrix Barcode) into a DataMatrix symbol:
"http://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingDataMatrix.aspx?Barcode="&
IDAutomation.com Barcode Database Example::Employee ID & "~d009" &
IDAutomation.com Barcode Database Example::First Name & "~d013" &
IDAutomation.com Barcode Database Example::Last Name & "FileMaker DataMatrix
Barcode"

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